BUFFALO – The Sabres on Sunday placed goalie Alexandar Georgiev on waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract.
Georgiev, 29, plans to sign with Spartak Moscow, a Kontinental Hockey League, according to Hockey News Hub. He makes his home in Moscow during the offseason.
Terminating his deal will end an odd three-month tenure in the organization for the two-time NHL All-Star.
The Sabres signed Georgiev to a one-year, $825,000 contract on Sept. 11 to beef up their goaltending depth after Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen suffered a lower-body injury.
But Georgiev struggled during training camp, compiling a 4.17 goals-against average and an .872 save percentage in four preseason games. When the St. Louis Blues waived goalie Colten Ellis shortly before the season opener, the Sabres claimed the rookie to keep as an extra netminder and waived the veteran.
After clearing, the Sabres assigned Georgiev to the Rochester Americans, where he played sparingly in his first stint in the AHL since 2018-19.
Sitting behind prospects Devon Levi and Topias Leinonen, he started just two games for the Amerks, compiling a 0-2-0 record with a 3.57 goals-against average and an .896 save percentage.
While Georgiev enjoyed success as an NHL starter – he led the league in wins two consecutive years, registering 40 in 2022-23 and 38 in 2023-24 for the Colorado Avalanche – he struggled last season.
He endured a brutal season last year, compiling a 15-26-4 record with a 3.71 goals-against average and an .875 save percentage in 49 total games with the heavyweight Avalanche and hapless San Jose Sharks.
On Dec. 3 in Buffalo, he allowed four goals on eight shots in the opening 11 minutes, 49 seconds before the Avalanche pulled him from a game it rallied to win 5-4.
Six days later, he was traded to San Jose in a deal that sent goalie Mackenzie Blackwood to Colorado.
Georgiev began his NHL career with the New York Rangers.